The top 10 tasty, possibly nasty and definitely weird things to eat and drink at the California State Fair

The California State Fair isn’t a place for foodies to hang out, drink rare beer and brag about what’s in their fridge. But every once in a while, fairgoers come across vendors serving interesting things. Here are few exciting (and bizarre) offerings that I’ve discovered in the past. (You’ve been warned: Vendors change every year, so not all of these are necessarily going to be there this year.)

The California State Fair isn’t a place for foodies to hang out, drink rare beer and brag about what’s in their fridge. But every once in a while, fairgoers come across vendors serving interesting things. Here are few exciting (and bizarre) offerings that I’ve discovered in the past. (You’ve been warned: Vendors change every year, so not all of these are necessarily going to be there this year.)

21st-century ice cream

Way back in the past, Dippin' Dots claimed to be the “Ice Cream of the Future.” Well, it's the future now, and the new ice cream of the future is something called spaghetti ice cream. This stringy, noodle-shape ice-cream concoction debuted at the fair last year.

A healthier reprieve

Perhaps it's been there for a while, but I was happy to find a Thai food truck at the fair last year. It had an affordable papaya salad in a bowl—half-spicy fishy strings of papaya and a bunch of plain lettuce. It’s a nice reprieve from the meat and fried-food-on-a-stick options.

Thanksgiving in July

The state fair's giant turkey leg is nothing like the typical Thanksgiving turkey. It’s smoked for a long time, giving it plenty of tenderness, plus it has a dry rub on the outside to give it flavor. Right before it’s served, the cooks throw it on an open flame to heat it up. It pairs quite well with papaya salad, actually.

‘Bad Boy Fire Stick'?

Near some of the county exhibits, there's usually a jerky vendor serving an assortment of flavorful beef and venison. Last year, there were flavors such as black pepper, teriyaki and something called a “Bad Boy Fire Stick.”

State fair classic

This is an actual classic dessert that tastes pretty good and is hard to find in places other than the state fair (OK, maybe a few places in Old Sacramento have it, too). You can get a frozen banana dipped in chocolate and covered in peanuts, a refreshing treat for the inevitable 100-degree day at the fair.

Another classic

Much like the frozen banana, the frozen cheesecake on a stick is another great treat to help fairgoers through hot days.

‘Exotic' meats, hmm

Jungle George hasn't been at the fair for a few years, but he made plenty of headlines in the past for cooking up racoon carcasses on a stick, maggot burgers and corn dogs stuffed with “exotic” meats.

Freebies!

This pick doesn't refer to any particular sample, per se. Instead, it's a shoutout to all the great samples in Cal Expo’s exposition buildings. Oftentimes, there are gourmet olive oil, dips and soups.

Wino passport not needed

Since Shaun Slaughter already disclosed one of the hidden gems of the fair (see page 20), it's worth repeating that the Save Mart Supermarkets Wine Country area is one of the best places to eat and drink. Here, one can purchase reasonably priced bottles of wine, fruit and cheese, and sit on a shady patio hidden between exposition buildings.